By Seyi Balogun, Lagos

The crashed aircraft in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, is believed to have 32 on board.

The Air Force confirmed the ATR-42 aircraft, as one on its fleet, had embarked on a routine mission from Benin, Edo State, to Lagos when the accident occurred on October 5, 2026.

In a statement on Monday, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Ehimen Ejodame, said an immediate search and rescue operation had been activated in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

The confirmation came after the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced that a military aircraft had crashed near the Naval Base in Igbokoda after air traffic controllers lost contact with it.

“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has activated an immediate Search and Rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026,” the statement read.

Ejodame said the aircraft was travelling from Benin to Lagos when the incident occurred, adding that efforts were underway to locate and assist those on board.

“The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. Search and Rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing.

“The NAF is committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing Search and Rescue efforts. Further details will be communicated in due course.”

The Air Force did not disclose the number of casualties or provide details about the condition of those on board in its statement.

However, Keyamo had earlier said preliminary information indicated that 25 passengers and seven crew members were on board, bringing the total number of people aboard the aircraft to 32.

In a statement issued by the ministry on Monday, the minister said air traffic controllers lost contact with the aircraft, with tail number NGR 931, at about 9:13 am.

“I regret to inform the general public that Air Traffic Controllers have informed me of the disappearance of a military aircraft with tail number NGR 931, en route enroute Lagos from Benin at 0913 hours earlier today. All efforts to raise the aircraft on radio proved abortive,” Keyamo said.

He later confirmed that the aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, adding that the wreckage had been located and search and rescue operations were ongoing.

“Subsequently, information, however, confirmed that the military aircraft had crashed close to the Naval Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State. The wreckage has been located, and search and rescue operations are ongoing,” he said.

Keyamo noted that the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority did not have regulatory authority over military aircraft. He said he had spoken with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and pledged the ministry’s cooperation and assistance with the rescue efforts.

Do not share sensitive personal information, including identification numbers, bank details, photographs and medical results, on artificial intelligence platforms, the National Information Technology Development Agency has warned Nigerians.

NITDA’s advisory titled “Advisory on the Safe Use of AI Platforms”, published on its website on Monday issued the warning.

The agency said members of the public were increasingly using AI chatbots and assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot and Meta AI for schoolwork, business, job applications, health questions and personal matters.

According to the advisory, many users share personal information without realising that information entered or uploaded on AI platforms may be stored outside their control.

NITDA added: “Information entered into an AI platform, may be retained, logged, used to train the provider’s AI models.”

It warned that personal details shared with AI platforms could be exposed in a data breach and used for identity theft, impersonation or financial fraud.

The agency also cautioned that AI tools could produce answers that appeared confident but were inaccurate or outdated.

It said acting on such information in health, legal, financial or academic matters could cause serious harm.

Anonymise information
NITDA advised members of the public to remove, anonymise or pseudonymise personally identifiable information and sensitive information before using AI tools.

The agency also advised users to verify the privacy and data-handling terms of AI platforms before using them.

It further urged users not to upload internal documents unless specifically authorised.

NITDA said organisations should implement AI governance or AI transformation policies defining approved tools, permitted use cases, data-handling rules and accountability for AI use.

It further advised organisations and their employees to follow existing AI, information security and data protection policies.

NITDA urges users to verify AI answers.

The agency ended the advisory with the message: “Think Before You Prompt.”

–Blue Economy Commissioner asks for calm

By Vincent Tyosuugh

Six passengers have not been accounted for as the boat carrying about seventy mourners crossing Buruku River in Buruku local government area of Benue State capsized.

The incident happened on Saturday, 3rd October, 2026, as mourners who had crossed the River to attend a burial ceremony were returning to cross the river to their various destinations.

Chairman of Buruku Local Government Area, Raymond Zege, confirmed the incident saying the boat developed a technical fault while the over seventy occupants were on the River.
Zege said:

“They are people from Gboko LG; they went for a burial across the other side, but on their way back, they overloaded the boat and the engine failed. You know, most of them are not conversant with water sounds, and they became panicky and in the process began to struggle.

“But before they could get to the other boat coming to rescue them, they ran into water waves, and the weight of the boat made it sink.”

Meanwhile, members of the public, particularly those whose loved ones boarded the boat, have been called to remain calm and await verified information from the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

In a press statement on Saturday,3rd October, 2026 signed by Denis Ter Iyaghigba, the
Commissioner said:

“I wish to assure members of the public, particularly families of those who may have been aboard the boat, to remain calm and await verified information from the appropriate authorities. No effort will be spared to ensure their safety.”

The statement further said boat operators and their union downstream have been directed to mobilise and assist in the ongoing search and rescue operation.